Just made an updated tutorial for Mapping your Network Members.. check it out!
This is a follow-up discussion to the
Design Hack which I posted 2 days ago, as promised.
If you've been looking for a way to map your members on the ning platform but have been pulling your hair out waiting on members to ADD THEMSELVES to the member map application,
this is the work around for you. You can find the finished product on the front page (and every page) of Land Surveyors United as well as the Surveyors Member Map Page.
Keep These Things in Mind:
- The only way this will work is if you have a question in your profile questions which asks for exact location, geodetic coordinates or similar.
- This will have to be reprocessed in the following fashion EVERYTIME you want to update your map
- This will only work as a top level admin or NC
- Its best to have a Gmail or Google Account to complete this tutorial, so get one if you do not have already.
- In a follow up post I will show you how to give your members custom icons..
Step One: Export your member data from the member moderation page in dashboard
Step Two: Import that .CSV file to Google Docs- make sure that ALL COLUMNS HAVE DATA IN THEM because if you have too many empty cells in the spreadsheet, it will not process in the next step.
Step Three: Head over to Mapalist.com and set up an account using the same Google/Google Docs account used in step 2. Create a map and when prompted, choose the spreadsheet that you used in step 2. Follow all of the instructions on Mapalist.com in order to convert the spreadsheet into a map with geolocations.
Step Four: View/Manage the map you just made-grab the embed code and add it to a page on your network. (See figure 1)
Step Five: Download the KML file which is at the bottom of the generated map, meant for Google Earth.
Step Six: Go to Google Maps while still logged into your google account and Create a Map which will be added to your "My Maps" section. Now Import that KML file from step Five into that map which you've just started and named.
Step Seven: You now have all of your members plotted on a google map, now look on the right hand side of the map and click "Link to This"-under it you will see customize this embed code. A new screen will open. Choose the correct size that you would like for your map to be and the embed code will be generated for you to embed in your network. (see figure 2)
Now look at what you just made....aren't you a genius!
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
If you like this workaround, please do me a favor. Call up every land surveyor that you personally know and ask them to please join Land Surveyors United as we are the best solution for a land surveyor when it comes to trouble shooting problems in the field. Land Surveyors NEED Land Surveyors United. Thanks and Enjoy!
Replies
Brilliant! Thank you
UPDATE: Before using this method, you may want to remove the columns inside your spreadsheet for Email Address (for privacy),Birthday, Receiving Broadcasts, Age and any other data you don't want displayed on the map.
maybe this will help?
I wrote this tutorial back in 2010...haha
nevertheless..this inspires me to write a completely new tutorial..because i do it differently these days.... stay tuned..ill try to write it up tomorrow..
J, does this map hyperlink members' locations to their member profile(s)?
And does looming Ning 3.0 have any impact or offer even more viable alternatives?
Ger
yes it will hyperlink the members if done correctly...steps in brief
Export your member data
Import the CSV to google docs
Convert spreadsheet into a fusion table
Geocode the Location Column
Set privacy to anyone with link
Embed in a page..
Just made an updated tutorial for Mapping your Network Members.. check it out!
What are the chances that Ning 3.0 might inadvertently disable this hack, Justin? And if it does, can this be made to work in 3.0? In fact, is anyone in Ning 3.0 using this successfully?
Because this actually happens outside of the actual network, i don't see how they could, Gerry.... what is your concern? Happy to help..
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